Improvement in sugar-cane harvesters



P. SEITZ. Sugar-Cane Harvester.

tented Oct. 30,1877.

' ATTORNEYS.

N. FEIERS, PHOTQALITHNRAPHEH. WASHINGTON. D C

PATENT OFFIon- PHIL'rP sErTZ, on BATON notion, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR T0HIMSELF AND J. o. HOLT, or SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SUGAR-CANE HARVESTERS.

. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,598, datedOctober 30, 1877; application filed June 18, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP Snrrz, of Baton Rouge, in the parish of EastBaton Rouge and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Sugar-Cane Gutters, of which the following is aspecification:

Figure 1 is a top view of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a side view ofthe same. 7 Fig. 3 is a front view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved machine designedespecially for cutting sugar-cane, but which may also be used forcutting corn and cotton stalks and stubble,

and which shall be simple in construction, convenient in use, andeffective in operation;

The invention consists in the combination of the sliding bars, theconnecting-bars, the gearwheels, the adjustable bars that carry theknives, and the adjustable braces with each other, and with the wheelsand the frame of the machine in the combination of the guidebars withthe outwardly-projecting rear ends of the sliding bars; and in thecombination of the gear-wheels, the rod, the shaft, the bar, the lever,and the cutters with the wheels and axle of the machine, as hereinafterfully described.

A are the wheels, which revolve upon the journals of the axle B. Theaxle Bis attached to the frame 0, and may be made in two parts, so thatit may be contracted and expanded to adjust it for narrower or widerrows. D are bars placed at the outer sides of the side bars of the frame0, and sliding in keepers attached to the said side bars. The forwardparts of the bars D are bent outward into U form, and to their ends arepivoted the ends of the connecting-bars E, the rear ends of which arepivoted to the crank-pins of the small gear-wheels L F, attached to theends of the shaft G. The

shaft G revolves in bearings attached to the frame 0. The teeth of thesmall gear-wheels F mesh into the teeth of the'larger gear-wheels H,attached to or formed upon the inner ends of the hubs of the wheels A,so that the slidebars 1) may receive a reciprocating longitudinalmovement from the advance of the machine. To each of the sliding bars D,in front of the axle B, is bolted the lower end of anupwardly-projecting bar, I, and to the said sliding bar D,in the rear ofthe said axle B, is bolted the upper end of the downwardlyprojecting barJ. The free ends of the bars I J are bent outward at right angles, andto them are bolted the knives or cutters K. The bars I J are slotted toreceive the bolts that secure them to the bars D, so that they may beadjusted to bring the knives or cutters K nearer to or farther from theground, according to the height of the cane. The bars I J arestrengthened against the draft-strain by the braces L, the outer ends ofwhich are bolted to the bars I J, and their inner ends are bolted to themiddle part of the bar D. The outer parts of the braces L are slottedlongitudinally, to receive the bolts that secure them to the bars I J,to allow the said bars I J to be adjusted.

By this construction, as the machine is drawn forward, the upper knivesK first meet the cane and cut off their tops, and then the lower knivesmeet and cut off their bottoms.

The rear ends of the sliding bars D are bent outward at right angles,and to their outer ends are attached bars or arms M, the forward partsof which project along the outer side of the wheels A. The other ends ofthe bars or arms M curve outward and rearward, as shown in Fig. 1, sothat as the cane-stalks are cut and fall back the bars M guide them intothe next furrow. To the outer ends of the hubs of the wheels A areattached crown or bevel-gear wheels N, the teeth of which mesh into theteeth of the small gear-wheel O, pivoted to the lower end of the rod P,which has a hole formed through it to receive and ride upon theprojecting end of the axle B. The teeth of the gear-wheel O mesh intothe teeth of the long gear-wheel Q, attached to the shaft R, whichpasses through and revolves in a hole in the axle B, and in an arm, S,attached to the end of said axle. The upper end of the shaft R isswiveled tothe lower end of a bar, T, the upper end of which is pivotedto the end of the lever U. The lever U is pivoted to the upper end ofthe rod P, and its upper end projects into such a position that it maybe reached and operated by the driver with his hand or with his foot, asmay be desired. To the lower end of the shaft R is attached a knife, V,which may be straight, curved, or circular, and which is designed to beused for cutting off canestalks when it is desired to windrow them, andfor cutting off corn-stalks, cotton-stalks, stubble, &c. W is thetongue, which is attached to the forward part of the frame 0. X are thewhiffletrees, which are attached to the forward corners of the frame 0.Y is the drivers seat, which is attached to the frame 0, or to aplatform, Z, attached to said frame.

I am aware that it is not, broadly new to provide a corn-harvester withhorizontally-revolving knives for cutting ofl corn-stalks near theground, and to combine with said cutters or knives means for raising andlowering the same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination of the sliding bars D,

the connecting-bars E the gear-whee1s F H, the adjustable bars I J, thatcarry the knives K, and the adjustable braces L, with each other, andwith the wheels A and frame 0, substam tially as herein shown anddescribed.

2. The combination of the guide-bars M with the outwardly-projectingrear ends of the'sliding bars D, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

3. The combination, in a cane-cutter, of the vertically-adjustableshaft" R, horizontal cutter V, long pinion Q, and swivel bearing-bar Twith the gear-wheels O N, supporting-bar P, lever U, and the wheel andaxle A B, as and for the purpose set forth.

PHILIP SEITZ.

Witnesses J 0s. GEBELIN, W. P. BATES.

